Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.

Embodiments of the invention include apparatus and methods for coating drug eluting medical devices. In an embodiment, the invention includes a coating apparatus including a coating application unit comprising a movement restriction structure; a fluid applicator; and an air nozzle. The apparatus can further include a rotation mechanism and an axial motion mechanism, the axial motion mechanism configured to cause movement of at least one of the coating application unit and the rotation mechanism with respect to one another. Other embodiments are also included herein.

The invention relates to a treatment device for workpieces, having the following: a treatment chamber (1); a shaft (2) which extends through a wall of the treatment chamber (1) into the treatment chamber and which is mounted in a rotatable manner; an electric treatment unit (3) which is secured to the shaft (2); and a power supply arrangement (6) with a first supply line (61), an electric coupling (63, 64), a second supply line (62), and an actuating unit (7). The electric coupling (63, 64) has a first coupling element (63), which is secured to the shaft (2) outside of the treatment chamber (1), and a second coupling element (64). The first supply line (61) connects the electric treatment unit (3) to the first coupling element (63), and the second supply line (62) is connected to the second coupling element (64). The actuating unit (7) is designed to actuate the coupling (63, 64) in order to bring the second coupling element (64) into contact with the first coupling element (63) or release the second coupling element (64) from the first coupling element (63).

A fixture for holding a medical device during a coating process. The fixture may comprise a mounting rail extending from a first end region to a second end region, a drive unit movably coupled to the mounting rail, a proximal coupling assembly removably coupled to the drive unit, a support member movably coupled to the mounting rail, a distal coupling assembly removably coupled to the support member, and a mandrel configured to extend through a lumen of a medical device. The mandrel may have a first end configured to be releasably coupled to the proximal coupling assembly and a second end configured to be releasably coupled to the distal coupling assembly. Actuation of the distal coupling assembly and/or the support member may be configured to pull the mandrel taut.

A positioning method for balloon coating by which the thickness and morphological form of a drug in a coating formed on a balloon can be suitably set. This method is a positioning method for balloon coating for forming a coating layer containing a water-insoluble drug on an outer surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter. The positioning method includes a positioning step in which a dispensing tube is moved, from a state of non-contact with the balloon, in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the dispensing tube, and an opening portion-formed end portion side of the dispensing tube formed at its end portion with an opening portion for discharging a coating solution is thereby placed in contact with the outer surface of the balloon.

A balloon coating method is disclosed, which includes an application step in which, where a flexible dispensing tube for supplying a coating solution containing the water-insoluble drug and a solvent is formed at its end portion with an opening portion for discharging the coating solution therethrough and when the opening portion-formed end portion side of the dispensing tube is kept in contact with the outer surface of the balloon in such a manner as to be oriented in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the balloon while the balloon is rotated about an axis of the balloon, the coating solution is discharged through the opening portion and applied to the outer surface of the balloon while the dispensing tube is moved relative to the balloon in an axial direction X of the balloon.

A balloon coating method is disclosed for forming a coating layer containing a water-insoluble drug on an outer surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter. The balloon coating method includes an application step in which, where a pipe-shaped dispensing tube formed from a polyolefin for supplying a coating solution containing the water-insoluble drug and a solvent is formed at its end portion with an opening portion for discharging the coating solution therethrough and when the end portion side of the dispensing tube is placed in contact with the outer surface of the balloon while the balloon is rotated about an axis of the balloon, the coating solution is discharged through the opening portion and applied to the outer surface of the balloon while the dispensing tube is moved relative to the balloon in an axial direction of the balloon.

A positioning method for balloon coating by which the thickness, morphological form and the like of a drug in a coating formed on a balloon can be suitably set. This method is a positioning method for balloon coating for forming a coating layer containing a water-insoluble drug on an outer surface of a balloon of a balloon catheter. The positioning method includes a positioning step in which the dispensing tube is positioned in such a manner that a virtual position at which an opening portion would be located if the dispensing tube is assumed to be non-flexible is located within the range of 0 degrees to 40 degrees from the reference plane toward the rotating direction side of the balloon, in a region extending from the reference plane in a direction opposite to the discharge direction of the dispensing tube.

A multiple-orifice nozzle that is employed for creating surface-adhesive rules onto the surface of a surface-adhesive die. The multiple-orifice nozzle is fluidly in communication with a source of flexible material that is forced or pulled through a selected orifice profile. The orifice profile can be selected based on a variety of criteria and, in some embodiments the orifice profile can be dynamically adjusted or controlled by adjusting the relative position of the multiple-orifice nozzle and/or by adjusting the position of one or more tubes that define various orifices such that the orifice profile is modified.

A coating material application system includes: a support base configured to rotatably support a coil spring; a sensor configured to measure a position of a strand of the coil spring; a first movement device configured to move the sensor; an application device; a second movement device configured to move the application device; and a control device. The control device is configured to: rotate the support base; a sensor control unit configured to acquire a measurement value of the sensor; move the sensor; calculate, based on a measurement value of the sensor, a position of application of a coating material to the coil spring; move the application device to a position where the application device is caused to apply the coating material to the position of application; and cause the application device to apply the coating material to the position of application.